Tangled Magazine

The Painted Veil
A film review by Laura Hartley

4.5 OUT OF 5.0 STARS

Written : Ron Nyswaner (screenplay), W. Somerset Maugham (story)
Directed : John Curran
Starring : Naomi Watts, Edward Norton, Liev Schreiber, Toby Jones

I entered The Painted Veil with a sensation that I would be bored, and quite disinterested, however the film surprised me. I walked out loving the movie, devastated that it was over, and moved to tears by an amazing story combined with amazing acting.

Based on the 1925 novel of the same name, The Painted Veil is a period love story. Edward Norton plays Dr Walter Fane, an English doctor who discovers his wife, Kitty (Naomi Watts), is having an affair. Wanting to punish his wife, he volunteers to help in a remote Chinese village ravaged by Cholera, leaving Kitty no choice but to follow. Kitty finds herself feeling alone and useless, however they are both surprised when they discover that their new life has brought meaning to their relationship, and they develop a love that they never had before.

Directed by John Curran, the film was shot throughout the Guangxi province in China. The period piece offers amazing 1920’s costumes (Ruth Myers, The Golden Compass) and beautiful scenery. The score, written by Alexandre Desplat (Hostage, Casanova) was mysterious, sensual and so perfectly written for this love story.

Whilst this does not sound like the most interesting of movies, Watts and Norton draw you in, allowing you to relate to their characters, feel their pain and share in their happiness. You will be left thinking about it long after it’s finished.